St. Louis AIDS
housing development the target of arson

Police in St. Louis say that arsonists recently targeted the construction site of a housing project designed to provide living space for HIV patients, starting a fire at the site just hours before a press conference was to be held to announce the building of the Partridge Place complex, the Associated Press reports. The fire will not delay the construction of the housing facility, which will be operated by the interfaith group Doorways, say agency officials. Police are unsure of whether arsonists deliberately targeted the construction site because of the nature of the HIV housing project, noting that there have been four other arson fires at construction sites in the city during the past two months. Doorways currently operates seven other housing facilities for HIV-positive people and their families in the St. Louis area. The Partridge Place complex would include 18 apartments, 14 of which would be designated for individuals and couples, the remaining designed for larger families. (The Advocate)